Cola Button and Silver Pager

Old Zhang has been feeling a bit troubled lately.

It's not because of anything in particular, it's just that he feels like he can't understand the world anymore.

First, he heard that the guy across the ocean has a mysterious red button on his desk. One press, and it's not a nuclear launch, but someone scurrying over with an ice-cold Coke. Old Zhang took a swig of his erguotou and thought, being a leader is certainly something else. For him, the most he could do was smash a cup as a signal for his wife to quickly heat up the food.

Before he could even wrap his head around that, he heard that a leader somewhere gave gifts to visiting guests. What did he give? Gold bars? Antiques? Nope. Each person received a shiny, silver... pager. Old Zhang had to dredge that word up from the depths of his memory. Weren't those things obsolete ages ago? Back in his youth, he'd clip a pager to his belt, and when it beeped, he felt so fashionable. Now? He'd almost worn out his smartphone.

"What do you think all this means?" Old Zhang chatted with his neighbors.

"Hey, who cares? We're just ordinary folks, why bother with that kind of nonsense?" someone replied.

"Yeah, it's better to spend that time playing a few more games of chess."

Old Zhang stayed silent. He always felt that there was something strange about these things.

The Coke button, how convenient, one press and it arrives. But behind it, could there also be a hidden capriciousness of power? You want a Coke, and someone has to bring it immediately. So, if you want to do something else, is it the same, one button, and someone will scramble to do it?

The silver pager, they say it's retro, nostalgic. But Old Zhang always felt that this thing wasn't a communication tool, but rather a symbol of power. Look, I can let you contact me, and I can also make it so you can't. The control is all in my hands.

Old Zhang thought back to his youth, when it wasn't so easy to connect with people. Writing a letter took several days to arrive. To meet up, you had to make arrangements in advance. But back then, the feelings between people seemed more sincere. Now, with a swipe of your phone, you can chat with anyone, anywhere in the world. But the distance between hearts has grown farther and farther.

Old Zhang also remembered Kafka. When he was younger he had read several Kafka's, but he always felt that it was hard to read, even with a sense of mystery. The advent of cola buttons and pagers actually had a bit of the absurd flavor of Kafka's novels. He felt that the world was becoming more and more like a giant maze. Everyone is wandering around inside, but can't find the exit.

"What do you think is happening to this world?" Old Zhang asked again.

No one answered him.

Only the old locust tree at the entrance of the alley swayed its branches in the wind, rustling, as if sighing, or perhaps mocking.

That night, Old Zhang had a dream.

In the dream, he stood in a huge square. In the center of the square stood a giant red button. Next to the button was a pile of silver pagers.

He wanted to walk over and press the button. But his legs felt like they were filled with lead, and he couldn't take a step.

He wanted to pick up a pager and make a call. But his hands felt like they were frozen, and he couldn't lift them.

He just stood there, unable to move.

All around him, there was dead silence.

Only the giant red button shone with an eerie light.

Old Zhang suddenly woke up, covered in cold sweat.

He went to the window and looked at the dark night sky, feeling empty inside.

He suddenly thought, perhaps, the most terrifying things in this world are not the visible powers, but the invisible cages.

And perhaps, we are all just prisoners in this cage.